Royal Enfield is working on two new platforms to meet the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 emission norms. One platform will involve the unit construction engine that is used by the Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird range of motorcycles while the other will involve the LS410 engine, which is currently being used only by the Himalayan on-off road motorcycle. All these motorcycles will get upgraded engines that meet BS6 emission norms, and along the way, Royal Enfield is also likely to add better features. LED lighting, ABS, and better cycle parts are likely to be offered on the BS6 ready versions of the Bullet, Classic, Thunderbird, and Himalayan.

It may be noted that Royal Enfield already offers ABS on the motorcycles it sells in Europe, which includes the Classic and Himalayan. In India, all 125cc+ motorcycles will have to offer ABS as standard from April 2018. This is a government order that every two-wheeler maker in India has to comply with. Naturally, Royal Enfield’s Indian range will also have ABS soon. The first ABS-equipped motorcycles from the Indian retro-bike brand will be the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 models. These bikes will also get fuel injection as standard, another key feature that even 350cc UCE Royal Enfields are expected to receive for BS6 compliance.

The Himalayan already gets fuel-injection, and the same is the case with Royal Enfield’s UCE500 engine that is available on the Bullet 500, Classic 500 and Thunderbird 500 models. The only other motorcycles that need fuel injection to meet tighter emissions are the Royal Enfields that use the 350cc engine. This is crucial as most motorcycles that Royal Enfield sells in India – its biggest market in the world – are powered by the 350cc UCE. So, fuel injection is another big change that’ll soon come all of Royal Enfield’s 350cc motorcycles. Prices are likely to increase due to the addition of ABS and fuel injection.